‘…if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.’ Philippians 4:8 NIV

You do not have more problems than other people—you just think about them more often! Stop: go back and reread that sentence. Take a moment and consider what it means. It is what you think about that produces how you feel. If you do not believe that, try getting angry without first having angry thoughts, or getting sad without first having sad thoughts. You cannot do it, can you? To experience a feeling you must first have the thought that produces it. That is life–changing information; it is knowledge the devil doesn’t want you to have. If you change how you think you will change how you feel! Nothing can hold your negative feelings in place other than your own thinking. The truth is, it is your thinking that is negative, not your life! Once you understand that you can get back on the path to happiness again.

But change takes time. You did not become negative overnight and you won’t become positive overnight. But you can start. How? By doing two things: First, by treating your negative thoughts in the same way you treat flies at a picnic—shoo them away and replace them with thoughts that are ‘excellent and praiseworthy’. You have that choice! Second, by thinking about God’s goodness. David did: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.’ (Psalm 103:2–4 NKJV) So, if you are serious about changing your life, start changing how you think!

SoulFood: Gen 10–12, Matt 18:10–20, Ps 58, Pro 6:12–15

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©